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Monday, February 5, 2018

Hey Guys!
I know it has been forever since I've posted anything along these lines or anywhere else for that matter, lol!
Wanted you all to know, there is a NEW challenge over on National Quilter's Circle site! Follow their links to get started, by signing up for their newsletter, download the patterns & instructions & joining the group on Facebook. A place to make new sewing friends, share your blocks & most of all, have fun while creating beautiful pieces!!
Join Here: National Quilter's Circle
Challenge Quilt Name: Pleiades Quilt
Creator: Gina Perkes @TheCopperNeedle

(I will be downloading the pattern\instructions when they become available too! Unfortunately, the Snowy Day Quilt I started is still in my tote of UFO's 😩 Hopefully, someday, I will find the time to complete that one, along with my other projects & to be able to post on here. Oh, the life of a dreamer! 😇

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Here is the bag that I have submitted to the Sew Sweetness Bag Sewing Contest! This is her pattern of The Kennedy Bag. Hope you all like it!
I changed the hardware on the side straps as well as changed the way the top of the sides were cut. Oh yeah, the pattern only had one line to divide the inside pocket, I added two to give it three sections.
I fought a little with it but in the end I feel like I accomplished what I set out to do, lol! Make the bag for the contest! I want to wish everyone Good Luck! You all can join too over on @SewSweetness blog. I will add the link for you to join, don't want to keep it all to myself! :)
I ended up breaking a nail & my Black Beauty broke one too(a needle).
This contest ends on April 30th, 2017.... Here is my version of The Kennedy Bag!!
#NBM #sewsweetnesscontest #sewsweetnesspattern
Fabric~ Exterior: Waverly Inspirations (Wal-Mart) 100% cotton duck
~Interior: Waverly Inspirations
~Pellon 911FF-Fusible Interfacing & a 1/2yd of thin automotive head liner(on hand)

Off to work on another or some quilt blocks, hmmm, sew many choices of fabric, sew little time....

The Brookfield Bag

Okay guys! I decided to sew up another bag for the contest above! What do ya think? Please comment & let me know your thoughts. Please be nice! I am a new bag maker & comments are appreciated!

Used the previous fabric as my Kennedy Bag, just LOVE it!

I left off the corner markers & the piping on my version, added some free motion design to the top bands.

#sewsweetness #NBM #sewsweetnesspattern

Update: I gifted my Kennedy Bag to a friend at work, who recently had a baby! I made a few bibs, blankets & wash cloths to go with it! She loved it all!

Friday, April 7, 2017

Here is a great video tutorial on ways to add elastic to your garments/projects. Lots of very useful information! She shows 7 different ways on how to install elastic. Whether your a newbie or advanced, there is always something new to learn about sewing!How To~Elastic

Another great video tutorial on ways to add bias tape to your projects. Lots of very useful information! Kathy shows us how to miter those corners & sew much more! Go check it out in the link below! How To~Bias Binding
Happy Creating,
Debbie

Thursday, April 6, 2017

This is the second block of the Snowy Day Quilt Sew Along. Follow along as I walk, hopefully, you through each step so you can do this too.

If you have seen the Snowy Day Quilt Block #1 tutorial then you should have all of your materials ready. If not, here is what you will need:

And you will be able to find the previous PDF files & others in the "Files" tab at the top of the groups page.

NQC Quilt Block Challenge (National Quilters Circle)Special Thanks goes to Andrea Smith @HappyCloudCreations for sharing her quilt blocks with us!I also added the direct link for the pattern below, so you can print the PDF.)PDF~Block #2

Place them right sides together, & draw your line diagonally from top corner to bottom corner. Then pin in place. Take to your machine & line your presser foot edge to the line & sew a 1/4" seam down both sides. Repeat for other squares until all have been sewn.

Then, you will sew Color B 2.5" x 8.5" strips on the right & left sides of your square, with right sides together. Again, press your seams toward the sewn strips.

Be sure to follow along with the PDF that you printed, on how to lay out your squares to make this beautiful block. Of course the square from the strips sewn together is center & then all of your squared combos are going around it.
After you have it in the design needed, you will then go row by row of sewing them together. Make sure that you keep it all organized!! As I said in Block #1 tutorial, you can use post it notes, index cards cut up or what I did was to take a sharpie & wrote 1-4 & A-D on my flat head flower pins. Anyway you can keep it right, please do so!
The PDF instructions will also show how to press your seams in the direction needed to reduce bulk

Sunday, April 2, 2017

I received for review/trial from Home Tester Club for free, the gorgeous Eclipse Olivia Thermaweave® Room-Darkening Window Curtain Panel in a aqua colored design pattern. I received 4 panels in my package. I have hung them & they block out at most 99.5% light. These panels are an excellent choice for blocking out the sun's harmful rays, they are made of 100% polyester & feel silky to the touch & come in some gorgeous designs & colors. I have mine hanging in my studio where I have sewing machines, fabric, etc & none of these can be subjected to the sun. These panels have made a huge difference in keeping the sun out! When I need additional light, I just wrap my tie backs that I made around them & tada, bright light! I highly recommend these beautiful panel selections!
You can order a set of beautiful curtains, bedding, etc over at Ellery Homestyles, where fashion meets function. The distribution center is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The best part besides these gorgeous curtains, I just recently signed up to be a member to test products. Become a member today!!

Pictures don't do them justice!

I do not receive any form of payment for my reviews, these were sent to me free of charge for testing/reviewing purposes.

Here is a great link to some very useful information! You don't come across too many of these, its always about the new. So I am very happy to share with you this link that I came across. As you know I love my vintage sewing machines(VSM), they have been passed down from our great, great grandmothers, great grandmothers, grandmothers & mothers. You get the idea! These machines have been through it all & will keep on giving! They were made to last, with mostly metal bodies & parts. They were offered with cams for decorative stitching, presser feet that we find very strange & mind boggling at times, lol, just from the looks of them! Most only offer a straight stitch but later they began the zig zag, blanket stitch, etc. If you look at a Vintage & a new model sewing machine today, what are the differences or similarities? There is so many machines out there just waiting to be rescued & brought home to be cleaned, oiled, & used again. You can find them very cheap, sometimes even free! May take some elbow grease but please don't pass these beauties up if you can!
Go out there & save a Vintage Sewing Machine today!
Happy Creating,
Debbie

Hey Guys! I know its been a while since I've added anything to share. Well, I will be sharing the blocks of the week with my very own tutorial. So you can join me here or you can follow the link to the Facebook group! Lots of great members on there for any questions you may have or just to follow every ones great creations!! There is still time to join, we have 3 blocks, which is three weeks remaining. And you will be able to find the previous PDF files & others in the "Files" tab at the top of the groups page. NQC Quilt Block Challenge (National Quilters Circle)Special Thanks goes to Andrea Smith @HappyCloudCreations for sharing her quilt blocks with us!I also added the direct link for the pattern below, so you can print the PDF.)PDF~Block #1~scroll downMaterial ListSewing machine or hand needlesthreadscissorsrotary mat & cuttera couple yards of fabric x 4 from your own stash :)pinsPretty much your basic sewing supplies!Snowy Day Quilt Sampler Block #1 You will need to gather up your four fabric choices that you would like to use in your quilt blocks.If you want the colors to be the same for all 9 blocks throughout, be sure to grab a couple yards each. This will ensure you don't run into any problems further in & make sure it's 100% cotton or a cotton blend. Don't make the mistake I did, lol, on my first block as you can see below. My lighting wasn't very good in my studio & I thought the solid color was a little thicker than what it was. After gathering your fabric & supplies, lay everything out & be sure that it goes well together, doesn't clash. Helpful tips I incorporated for myself to help me keep everything organized was to number on the back side of my rows. Then in the next blocks you will see that I used a Sharpie to mark numbers 1-4 & A-D on my flat flower head pins. Any way to help yourselves out, please do so. "Sew" are ya ready to start sewing, I mean cutting, cause we HAVE to get through that first! :)I know, I know, you was already firing up that ole sewing machine! Off we go....~Cutting Instructions~Pick 3 colors that blend & then add the contrasting solid color. You can use florals, etc. Fabric A or #1: You will need a dark color here, cut 2 into a 4.5" x 4.5" squares(.5=1/2)Fabric B or #2: You will need a lighter color here, cut 3 into a 5.25" x 5.25" squares(.25=1/4)Fabric C or #3: You will need a light/medium color here, cut 3 into a 5.25" x 5.25" squaresFabric D or #4: You will need a light/medium solid color here, cut 2 into a 4.5" x 4.5" squares & cut 6 into a 5.25" x 5.25" squares Andrea's suggestion on color choice may help more than mine, so hers is listed below as per the pattern:Andrea'sMineFabric A: Navy Dark Blue with CherubsFabric B: Pink Light Blue with white swirlsFabric C: Teal Pink with flowersFabric D: Grey Blueish Grey for my solid~Sewing Instructions~ After you have all of your 5.25" squares cut out, you need to match your fabric combinations, with right sides together(rst). So take your three Fabric B's & match up, rst, to three of your Fabric D's. Then do the same with Fabric C & Fabric D's squares. You will end up with three D/B & three D/C combinations. Then take your marking tool & ruler, mark a line from one corner to the other diagonally, then pin in place so your squares don't move. Take your combinations to your machine and sew a 1/4" from the marked line down both sides of your squares as shown in the image below.

(Chain pieced)

Repeat for each square until all are sewn together. Then head back to your cutting table, there you will take your rotary cutter or scissors & cut on the line that you drew earlier. You will end up with half square triangle sets(hst). Next step is to open them all up & press your seams to the darker fabric. This is very important so your blocks will match up as well as less bulk.

When you have completed that step, you will then measure each square & trim down to 4.5"x4.5"

You will then lay out all of your squares as shown in the diagram below. As I said I will add the original pattern for each block so you can see it better & to follow along.

(4 rows across & 4 rows down)

Be sure you have your rows marked so you can keep them in the order needed. Either by marking on the back, post it notes or the way I done it by marking numbers & letters on my flower pins. Whichever is easiest for you, please do so. The next steps you will need to be very accurate!Start off by pinning Row #1's squares. You can do it by matching up two blocks, right sides together, at a time or all of them the way I do, so less walking to & from my machine & cutting table. :)Please, Please be sure to keep them in order!! Very important!! Then take them to your machine after pinning & sew down the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Repeat for all 4 rows, keeping them in the order needed. After you have done from left to right, joining your blocks, then press your seams. You will then lay them back out & start sewing the full rows together. Again be sure to mark their placement. Fold Row #2 up to meet Row #1 & Row #4 up to meet Row #3. Matching up right sides together, pinning & then sewing with a 1/4" seam allowance. Then of course you need to attach the two sections at Row #2 & Row #3 together in the same way. Then press in this way, 1st row up, 2nd row down, 3rd row up & 4th row down, this produces less bulk. Lay out your block, take a look at the fantastic work of art you have just completed!! Awesome job!!!

So many ways you can make a pincushion, its all up to your personal choice. I made one for myself & here is how I done it.

With a scrap of fabric about 3.5"W x 9.5"L, I folded it long ways,right sides together, then sewed up both sides & ends, leaving about a 3" gap in the center for turning & stuffing. Turn right side out & press. Fold it in half to mark where you want it to sit on your wrist. Then about two inches from each side of your mark, zig zag stitch to keep batting & cardboard in place. You can even top stitch at this point, which I did not.
I cut a piece of cardboard small enough to fit , grabbed my batting to stuff it & as you can see in the pic I placed the cardboard in the gap & filled it with the stuffing. Then close up the gap. You will need Velcro, snaps, whatever you want to use as a closure. You don't want it falling off your wrist, lol. I used Velcro on mine, it was fastest & easiest.

You can make this however big you like with any design too. Its all up to you!